May 20, 2014

1.8 million pounds of US beef recalled due to fears of E. coli contamination
 

About 1.8 million pounds of ground beef products in the US are being recalled due to fears of possible E. coli contamination, US Today reported.

The beef products were tainted with E. coli O157:H7, the source of at least 11 illnesses across four states including three cases of hospitalisations. The bacteria were traced to Wolverine Packing Co., according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The recalled ground beef products were produced from March 31 to April 18 this year and shipped to distributors for restaurant use throughout Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio, federal officials said.

Executives from Wolverine Packing issued a statement, saying that "while none of the Wolverine Packing product has tested positive for the pathogen implicated in this outbreak, the company felt it was prudent to take this voluntary recall action in response to the illnesses and initial outbreak investigation findings."

Federal officials were alerted on May 12 and have been working with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health officials. Federal staff will inspect restaurants to ensure the absence or removal of contaminated meat, a spokeswoman for the USDA said.

In the meantime, the organisation has released a full list of recalled products. Federal inspectors also noted that none of the potentially contaminated beef was shipped to the National School Lunch Programme, the Department of Defense, or for catalog and online sales.

Illness from E. coli O157:H7, a particular strain which releases toxins, can be severe, causing abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.

"If it's not controlled, it kills young children and the elderly," said Evangelyn Alocilja, a researcher from the Michigan State University researcher.